Spinning or twisting machine.



J. GOOD.

SPINNING 0R TWISTING MACHINE. APPLICATION I'ILED 11110.9, 1911.

Patented July 7, 1914.

4 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

5] nos wfoz THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHUI'U-LITHOU V/ASHINGTUN. D1 C.

J. GOOD.

SPINNING OR TWISTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILED 10.0, 1911.

4 SHEETB-SHEBT 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LHTHO WASHINGTON. Dv C.

J. GOOD.

SPINNING 0R TWISTING MACHINE.

-APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 0, 1011.

Patented July 7, 1914.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS C(l, PHO'IOJJTHQ. WASHINGTON, D- C.

J. GOOD.

SPINNING 0R TWISTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9,1911.

Patented Jul 7, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

13) due we 0 THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D Cv NT OFFICE.

JOHN @001), or NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

SPINNING 0R TWISTING'MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J nly 7, 191 1.

Application filed August 9, 1911. Serial No. 643,074.

To all whom it may concern:

ide it known that I, J 0.1m G001), a citizen of the United States, residing in the bor ough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spinning or Twisting Machines, of which the following is a full and true specification.

The invention relates to improved means for regulating the speed of the sliver chain of long-line spinners in accordance with the thickness of the sliver delivered by it to the ilier, its object being to produce simple and elfective means for driving the pin t ain at several dill'ta'ent spee( s under the control of the nnspnn sliver so that the resulting yarn will he of uniform thickness.

The invention also concerns the details of: the mechanism hereinafter described and combinations thereof as pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

in the drawings forming a part of this ap1' lication, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spinner embodying my invention, the flier end of the spinner being omitted as nonrelevant to the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3, of Fig. 1. illustrating the arrangement of the parts of the speed change mechanism. Fig. i is a sectional view of the nipper or feeler shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line of Fig. 3; portions of the apparatus being shown in elevation for convenience of illustration. Fig. (3 is a detail sectional view along the line (56 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 77 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view along the line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

The apparatus consists of a frame 10, a pin train 11, mounted thereon, feed rollers 12 for delivering sliver or fibrous material to the pin train 11 and the nipper 32, speed change mechanism for varying the speed of the pin train and the feed rollers, and automatic means for controlling the operation of the speed change mechanism in accordance with the condition of thesliver passing therefrom, it being understood that the apparatus illustrated is that part of a spinning frame which supplies the fiber to a revolving flier of any suitable type by which it is spun into yarn.

The pin train illustrated consists of an endless chain or belt of pin bars 13, which is suitably mounted on guideways on the frame and upon pairs of chain wheels 14 and 15 at the ends of the gnidcways. The chain wheels 15 at the forward end of the frame are carried on an axle 16 which is journaled :in suitable bearings and provided at one end with a gear 17, meshing with a pinion 18, which is driven by a gear 18, the latter being driven by a sprocket wheel 19 and chain 20. A sprocket wheel 21 is mounted on the end of the axle of the chain wheels 14 and through a chain 22, drives the feed rollers 12 in the usual way.

The sliver from the can passes into the feed rolls 12 through a conductor 2!) and thence through a second conductor 31 to the pin train 11, which moves forwardly there from in the direction of the arrow and conducts the fibers into the nippcr 32 of any suitable constructimi, from which it is taken by the hauling-oil mechanism of the revolving flier.

The nipper as illustrated in Fig.;ilconsists of a tube in which a spring-actuated knuckle 32-; is yieldingly held in such manner as to grip the sliver passing theretln-ough with more or less pressure according to the set ting of its restraining spring. The nipper is carried on the end of an upright lever 34; which is fulcrumed on a pin 35 near the base of the frame 10, so that it can swing backward and forward in response to variations in the thickness of the sliver, swinging forward or toward the pin-train when the sliver becomes thin, and backward when it becomes thick. The nipper thus serves as a fecler of the sliver and its to and fro movements are utilized to control the speed changing mechanism providing three different speeds for the pin train. The speed change mechanism consists of a high speed clutch and gear mechanism, an intermediate speed clutch and gear mechanism, and direct driving sprockets which constitute the low speed driving mechanism.

A shaft (-12) receiving power from the drive sprocket chain 43, which is coupled to the flier part of the spinning machine not herein shown, serves to ope ate the several clutches for the different speeds.

The high speed clutch mechanism includes a friction surface or disk 46 which is formed on or rigidly mounted on the shaft 12 as by means of a set screw 17. A sleeve 48 is loosely mounted on the shaft 4-2 and is formed with a terminal flange or friction disk 19, adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with the disk 46 by the action of a coiled spring 50 which surrounds the shaft 42 between the end of the sleeve 49 and a collar 51 rigidly fixed on the shaft 42. The sleeve 48 also carries a sprocket wheel 52 fast thereon, which through its chain 55 is adapted to drive a sprocket wheel 53, on the secondary or counter-shaft 54. The latter shaft drives the train-driving chain 20 above referred to by means of its sprocketj lVhen the two friction disks 46 and 49 54'. are mutually engaged and seized one upon the other, the train of gearing just described is operative to drive the pin train at its highest speed. The sleeve 48 also carries a disk 56, rigidly mounted thereon at its opposite end, which is adapted to be engaged by a non-rotary annular pressure plate 57 for the purpose of shifting the sleeve lengthwise on the shaft and thereby separating or disengaging the two driving disks.

The annular plate is carried on the bifurcated end of a lever 58, which is fulcrumed at a convenient point on the frame portion 10 and actuated by a link 58' pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 59, later described, and it is adapted to create more or less friction upon the sleeve disk 56 so that it also exerts a braking action when it is brought to bear thereon, tending to check the motion of high speed train of gearing. For this purpose one or the other of the disks, 56 or 57, is provided with a cork face 56'.

The intermediate speed clutch mechanism is or may be structurally identical with the high speed clutch mechanism just described and consists of a disk 60 set-screwed on the shaft 42, a sleeve 61 loosely carried on the shaft and provided with a friction disk 62 disposed in position to engage the disk 60 under the pressure of a coil spring 63. The spring 63 surrounds the shaft 42 between the end of the sleeve 61 and the fixed hub of the disk 46 of the high speed clutch. A sprocket wheel 64 keyed on the sleeve 62 is connected by a sprocket chain 66 to drive a sprocket mounted on the counter-shaft 54 in the same manner as the sprocket 53. When the disks 62 and 60 are seized one upon the other and the high speed train above described has been disconnected, the sprocket wheel 64 is operative to drive the pin-train at the intermediate of the three speeds available. The difference in speed of the pin train between that produced by the high speed clutch mechanism and that of the mechanism just described, is due to the difference in the diameters of the driven sprockets 53 and 65 on the countershaft. The sleeve 61 also carries a disk 67, fast thereon which is adapted to be engaged by a non-rotary annular pressure plate 68 which may be and preferably is exactly like the pressure plate 57 above described, being supplied with a cork face and carried by the bifurcated arm of the bell crank 59 and adapted to be moved thereby toward its friction disk 67, for the purpose of sliding the sleeve 61 and its friction disk 62 away from the revolving disk 60, thereby disconnecting the sprocket 65 from its driving connection with shaft 42, and simultaneously checking its motion. The other arm of the bell crank 59 is connected to the nipper lever 34 by means of a link 69 which is provided with an enlarged head 73 confined in a socket in the nipper lever by means of a cover 7 5 and against the outward pressure of a coil spring 72 also contained in the socket. This form of yielding connection provides for a p0sitive forward pull on the link with the re turn motion of the lever appropriately cushioned by the spring. It will be observed from the connections so far described that the forward pull by the nipper lever tends to shift both the high and low speed clutches into their disengaged positions. The working arm of the bell-crank 59, however, is supplied with an adjustable lost motion device, indicated in F 3 as consisting of a hinge joint 59 (between the forked end of the arm and the joint of the cross link 58,) and an adjustable abutment screw 59 adapted to be engaged as a stop by the tail 59 of the forked end. As will be observed from this arrangement a small amount of lost motion is provided by the space between the tail and screw which causes the high speed clutch to shift slightly in advance of the low speed clutch, permitting the latter to be seized while the other is disconnected from the drive shaft. Continued movement of the bell crank disconnects both clutches. Any lost motion device can be substituted for the one just described.

The slow speed driving mechanism, which is rendered effective to drive the pin train when both clutches are disconnected consists of a sprocket 77 fast on the shaft 42,

driving a sprocket chain 71 which drives a sprocket 78 on the counter-shaft 54. The latter sprocket (78) is inconstant gear with 1 the drive shaft 42 and by, virtue of its relatively large size, as compared to the other sprockets (53 and 65) on the counter-shaft, revolves at a slower rate although in the same direction.

Interference between the several drives of the counter-shaft is avoided by providing each of the sprockets 53, 65 and 78 with suitable overrunning devices, 3 which permit the shaft to revolve forwardly with respect to each wheel. Such devices may consist of a pawl and ratchet combination as indicated in Fig. 7, which figure will serve to ndicate all of the devices, as they may all be alike. The ratchet wheel 79 is keyed to the counter-shaft and the sprocket Wheel is held on the shaft between the ratchet Wheel and a fixed collar 80 so as to be free to revolve on the shaft. A springpressed pawl 81 pivotedon the face of the sprocket to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel serves to prevent the sprocket wheel from over-running the shaft but allows the shaft to overrun the sprocket wheel. \Vhen the shaft is being revolved by the high speed train, it overruns both sprockets (i5 and 78 and when it is being driven by the slow speed train and the other two sprockets have ceased rotation, it overruns the latter in like manner.

From the connections of the nipper lever 34L with the clutch mechanisms as above de' scribed, it will be observed that the two coil springs 50 and 63 together tend to draw the nipper in a direction toward the pin t am and against the frictional pull of the sliver passing through the nipper, which tends to draw it in the opposite direction. A retractile spring 34 is also provided for the same purpose, being connected at one end to the bell-crank, as shown in Fig. 3 and adjustably held by the other on the i'ramcwork of the machine. By increasing the pull of this spring, as by setting the holding nut 34", the resistance which the nipper op poses to the pull of the sliver can be varied,

. and in this way the thickness of theyarn may also be controlled. Under conditions of abnormal thinness of the sliver the tension of the springs will predominateand thereby the friction clutch disks 4S and 2 of both clutch mechanisms will be urged to* ward their complementary clutch members 46 and (30 respectively, with the result that both sprockets 53 and 65 on the countershal't will be simultaneously driven but the former at greater speed than the latter, due to their difference in diameter above noted. The fast sprocket 53 will however become operative on the counter-shaft causing it to overrun the slower sprocket (i5, and the pin'train will therefore be driven at its highest speed which will tend to compensate for the abnormal thinness of the sliver being spun, by supplying it more rapidly to the flier which, of course, is driven at constant speed. H

in conditions of increasing thickness the nipper lever moves in the direction in which the sliver is passing and by such movement causes the successive separation of the clutch disks. The outward movement of the nipper lever thus first produces pressure of the annular plate 57 against the sleeve disk 56, sliding the sleeve a slight distance against the pressure of the spring 50, thereby disengaging the driving connection be tween the disks i6 and i8, and simultane ously checking and stopping the high speed train by the braking action of the pressure plate. In this condition the intermediate speed sprocket 65 picks up the counter-shaft and through it drives the pin-train until the nipper lever has moved 'far enough outwardly to take up the lOSt-lll()tl()!l, deterin like manner and thereby stop the intcrnualiate train, whereupon the constantly driven slow speed sprocket 'TSpicks up the counter-shaft and continues to drive it at the slowest speed, overrunniug the now stationary sprockets 58 and (55 so that power is not wasted by rotating the disks 5(5 and 67 against the frictional resistance of the nonrotary plates 57 and (38. The return Oil the nipper lever produces the reverse etfects in the reverse order, calling into operation first the intermediate clutch and then the high speed clutch. It will be observed that by the provision of the friction and overrunuing devices as above described the change from one speed to another is eliiazted instantly since the momentum of the driving trains is not imparted to the pin train and because the clutch members are disengaged and braked simultaneously. It will be further observed that the ell'ect of wear on the faces of the several clutch disks compensated by the equal wear of the braking disks, this being due to the opposition of the longitudinally moving disks on the drive shaft and the mode of their operation as above described, so that the relationship and adjustment of all the parts remains m1- changed notwithstanding the wear on the members which, of course, is more or less inevitable. It will be understood that the mode of gearing the counter-shaft to the pintrain and of connecting the nipper lever to the clutch mechanisms for producing the results described, maybe substituted by any other suitable form of gearing or sys tem of linkage and that the principle of coiltrol above described can be duplicated. or multiplied in a given machine without departing from this invention.

I claim i 1. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, a sliver-carrying pin-train, means for driving the same, a speed'chauge mechanism between the train and said driving means, comprising high, intermediate and low speed transmission mechanisms adapted to be driven simultanem sly bysaid. driving means and having over-running connec- 'tions with the pin-train, and successively operated clutch mechanisms controlled by the sliver for rendering one or the other of said transmission mechanism cil'ective in driving the pin train.

2. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, a sliver-carrying pin-train, three separate transmission mechanisms each havmeans for driving said transmission mechanisms, a feeler engaged with the sliver and mg an over-runningconnection therewith,

or all of said mechanisms may be driven by said drlvmg means.

same, two separate pairs of clutch disks between said pin-train and said driving.

means, and a sliver feeler frictionally connected with the driven clutch disks so as to disconnect one or other thereof and simultaneously brake the same, and means acting in opposition to the sliver feeler to seize the clutch disks with each other.

4:. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, a sliver-carrying pin-train, and a speed change mechanism for driving it, comprising separate tansmission mechanisms and cooperating clutch devices, a movably mounted nipper and means controlled by the movements thereof for 'selectively coupling and uncoupling the clutch devices and for braking the driven clutch devices simultaneously with their uncoupling.

In a feed regulator for spinning machines, a sliver-carrying pin-train, driving means for said pin train, separate transmission mechanisms between said driving means and said pin-train, a separate clutch device cont-rolling the operation of each mechanism, an over-running device for each mechanism, means for simultaneously rendering said clutches operative and a sliver feeler operating to render one or another of said clutches inoperative.

6. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, a sliver-carrying pin-train, driving means for said pin-train, separate transmission mechanisms between said means and said pin-train, a separate clutchTfor controlling the operation of each mechanism, an over-running device for each mechanism, means for simultaneously rendering all of said clutches operative, and a nipper movable in response to variations in the amount of fibrous material delivered by said pin train for rendering one or another of said clutches inoperative.

7. A feed regulator for spinning machines comprising a constantly running, s1owspeed driving train and a higher speed driving train provided with means for releasably engaging it with the driving source, a sliver feeler controlling such means, a sliver-carrying chain adapted to be driven by either of said trains and provided with an overrunning driving connection from the slowspeed train.

8. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, a sliver-carrying chain and two or more different speed driving trains therefor,

a driving shaft provided wit-h a series of clutch devices respectively adapted to drive the said trains and a sliver teeler successively connecting said clutch devices to rotate with said driving shaft. 6

9. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, the combination of a sliver-carrying chain, a driving member, difierent-speed transmission trains adapted to be selectively engaged therewith, to be driven thereby and to drive the sliver-carrying chain, and means for braking each of said transmission trains.

10. In a feed regulator for spinning niachines, the combination of a sliver-carrying chain, a driving member, different-speed transmission trains adapted to be driven thereby to drive said chain, and having parts normally urged into position to be so driven in combination with means adapted to bralre the said parts and acting thereon to disengage the same from the driving member.

11. In a feed regulator for spinning machines, the combination with the sliver chain to be variably driven and a drive shaft for driving the same, of a series of clutch members arranged along the said shaft, each having driving connections to the sliver chain, and a nipper operative for successively shifting said clutch members into JOHN Goon.

I'Vitnesses:

G. A. TAYLOR, H. G. KIMBALL.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

